Portholes and other Hardware

Portholes
I have been delaying ordering some portholes, but I decided to give my self an early Christmas gift.
I looked around a lot to find something I would like and finally decided on the Vetus 52q which fits perfectly in a 6" hole.  I was able to get at a discount due to a black Friday sale.

The portholes come with screens that can be inserted, so I should be able to get some good ventilation. After marking the holes and drilling them out, I did a couple coats of epoxy using a pipe cleaner and then used 3m Sealant on all the holes and thoroughly coated the inside and outside to properly seal things.

I am very pleased with how they look!

Assorted Hardware

Harken #327 cam cleat for Jib sheets
I pre-drilled the holes and coated with epoxy. After curing I installed with bolts and 3M Sealant.

Chain Plates

I predrilled the holes after measuring location per the plans. Coated the holes with epoxy and then used bolts to install. 

Both the Chainplate and Jib Leads installed.

Below are pictures of the anchor cleats on both the port and starboard side. They are bolted through for strength.  Again I pre-drilled, coated the holes with epoxy and then used 3m Sealant when installing. 

Rudder Install 

I have sort of been putting this installation off, since it required me to drill into the boat. I know everything is repairable, but after spending so much time on making things look good it is tough for me.  So I finally decided to take the plunge.

I first drilled the hole in the keel, but first I sized up the bolts that came with the kit and did some test holes in a scrap piece to make sure I had the right size. After drilling the holes, I mixed up some sort of thickened epoxy. I didn't want it too thick since I had to use a syringe to squirt epoxy up into the hole and also on the eye bolts. I threaded the bolt into the hole applying epoxy as I went. I used this same method on the 2 eye bolt holes on the rudder. The upper bolt on the boat, I had to cut off to length and just used 3M Sealant to seal things up.

The bar shown in the picture below had to be cut off to length and two holes in each end to hold the key rings so the bar will not come out. Not sure that is the proper term, but thats what it looks like to me. I also may install a second one on each end for safety. Wouldn't want one breaking and coming off. That would not be a nice scene!!!

Below is a test fit of the rudder.  I inserted the tiller and looks like i have plenty of movement. I still need to finish up the painting once it gets warmer.

More Hardware Installs!

Continuing to slowly get tasks done.

Below are some pictures of some of the wooden pieces drying after 2 coats of epoxy.

I decided to cut a clothes hanger and use it to hang the small pieces. Worked pretty good.

If you don't recall, I added a 1/4 inch thick piece of plywood to the tabernacle to help with strengthening it. I finished up re-drilling the holes and put some fiberglass over one side. Below is a picture of one of the sides curing. I still need to do the other side. The temperatures in the garage have been in the mid 50's so I have been using work lights to help things cure.  Not an ideal time to do epoxy work.

After drilling some of the holes for the hardware and applying some epoxy to each on a couple different times, I installed the bolts for some of the hardware. I used 3m sealant applied to the bolts and bottom of the hardware. It is funny it actually took a lot of time to install 10 pieces. 

I found that the portholes that I have yet to install allowed me to reach in the opening to install the nuts and washers and tighten them up.  

We have been taking a lot of weekend trips lately, so work time has been limited. I am taking some time off for Christmas and should have more time to do more work. 

Continued Hardware Installs

I finished up installing the port side Lazarette hatch and other Cowl vent. I had to wait to install together, because of the 3M Silicone Sealant drying up quickly. On the label, it mentions you must use within 24 hours once the seal is broken, so I didn't want to waste any. I didn't take any pictures, but the starboard side looks the same.

The small pieces below are wooden washers or what I am calling them. They will go on the inside of the boat to what I guess is protect the hull from being damaged when I tighten up the nuts and washers. I cut out some extra and will need to coat them with epoxy.

The longer pieces are to hold the companion way drop boards in place. I need to coat them with epoxy and then will most likely varnish.

I spent a while locating the halyard cleats ( 2 on both sides of the companion way hood) and the blocks by the cowl vents. I find it difficult to drill holes in the boat after spending all the time to make things look nice.  I will need to put some epoxy in the holes before installing the stainless steel fasteners.

Halyard cleat holes, 2 per side. 

Holes drilled for the 2 blocks. 2 on the other side drilled as well. 

I did have to spend some time with the fasteners. I took a trip to the local hardware store and took some of the cleats and blocks with me. I tried to estimate the size and some of the them had the instructions on installing online, but some didn't. So I thought the safest thing was to take them with me and try out. The ACE Hardware has fasteners by the piece vs. the big box stores having packages of them. I could just pick one up and try it. I only purchased a portion, but the store is just up the road 10 minutes away.

Painting and some Hardware Install

Rudder Sanding and Painting

I had built the rudder a while back and did a rough sanding. I finally finished the sanding and put a couple of coats of Interlux Bottom Paint on the bottom portion. I didn't have enough for the 3rd coat, so I will have to buy another quart.  I did decide to finish the upper part of the rudder with varnish, so I have the rudder marked for a blue strip and the part right below white as well. Will take a few sessions to get that completed. 

Installing Hardware

I started to install some of the hardware. 1st up was to mark the holes for the lazarette hatches, cowl vents and cleats in the front bay. I marked the holes and then drilled them out. I then marked around the holes and applied epoxy in the holes a couple of times. I used some pipe cleaners and that worked pretty good. 

Cowl vent taped out to install epoxy in the holes. 

Cleat holes on the dorade boxes. 

I then applied 3M Silicone Sealant around the entire edges and then use stainless steel hardware with locking nuts. So hopefully I will have a good seal! 

Lazarette Hatch all installed. 

Port side Cowl Vent installed. Starboard is completed as well. 

Another picture of hatch installed. 

Tabernacle

I am still working on the tabernacle mistake I made with putting the pieces together wrong. I have finished filling in the old holes and have drilled and filled the new correct holes. 

Below is a picture of the epoxy filling the holes. I have since then sanded everything. I also plan on applying some fiberglass on the outside to help strengthen things. 

Finishing up Painting and Other Tasks!

I managed to finish up the 3 final coats with dealing with my back. Still having to go very slow, but I was able to get it done. I still have a few places I will need to touch up, but will wait until I get the boat on the trailer.

Below are a few pictures.

I did use some Total Boat faring compound from Jamestown Distributors in a few place in the bow section, but for the most part, my fillets looked pretty good! 

Tabernacle

Below is a picture of the tabernacle. If you recall, I messed up the location of the holes. Since I have been reading a lot about the tabernacle splitting and some of the fixes I have seen, I decided to add a piece of 1/4 inch plywood to each side. This will bring my thickness to 1", so should help to strengthen. It will also help me cover up the miss drilled holes. I am still thinking about finishing natural and this will give me the option. Most likely I will paint though. 

Boom Gallow

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours rigging up the drill press and measuring, more measuring and then finally drilling. when I was done and I went to put the boom gallow on the poles, I figured out I drilled the holes too big! A while back, I created a boom gallow to use as a test piece for drilling the holes in the seat back. I got a drill bit and put it in my test piece and it was the same size, so I went ahead and drilled the final piece. Should have checked!!!! But like most things there is a fix. I just filled up the holes with thickened epoxy and will do the drill-fill-drill thing. I will stick with the story that that was my plan all along! LOL.  Nobody will know any better. 

Yesterday I also worked on the Rudder and sanding it. I sanded through in a couple places, so I will be applying epoxy to those areas before sanding.

Starting to look at all the fitting out and will be going to get screws for some things shortly.

Painting!

Been laying low a little. Been fighting some back issues, which means I haven't been working on the boat as much as I like. I did manage to prime the boat, sand and put one final coat on.

Below is a picture of the Interlux Pre-Kote Primer. After letting it dry for a week, I sanded the entire boat again with 220 grit.  This took off most of it.

Today I just finished putting the 1st coat of Interlux Brightside. Below are a few pictures. 

I had vacuumed the boat thoroughly and wiped it down with denatured alcohol. 

I will be letting this dry and hopefully do a quick 320 sanding of this coat and put the 2nd coat on next weekend.  Things are slowly coming along. 

Tabernacle, Companionway and Bowsprit

Tabernacle 
A few weeks ago during a hot streak of about 103 degree days I was working in the garage. I was doing other tasks and decided the last thing I would do for the day was to glue up the tabernacle.
Below are a couple pictures of things clamped up.

Since it was so hot I was in some what of a hurry. I noticed the holes didn't look like they were in the right place, but decided the templates couldn't be wrong. I should have stopped, but I went ahead and glued things up. So my mistake. I had the outside boards turned around. The middle piece should have been on the other side. So now my tabernacle has the holes in the wrong place! :-(  

But not a big deal, I have already fixed the bevel so the tabernacle sits correctly and I plan on refilling the holes and then drilling where they should go. Just some wasted time to have to redo things.


Toerails
I cut the toerail angles on my bandsaw. I noted the angle on the plans and adjusted the table on the badsaw and ran them through.

I predrilled the holes. I think I used about 7 and cut little pieces of wood, so screwing it down would not damage the wood. I screwed everything down doing a dry fit and then lathered everything up with some thickened epoxy. I have been using the pre-mixed epoxy Total Boat Thixo from Jamestown distributors. Sort of expensive, but quick and easy.

Since I lathered the epoxy on, I had good squeeze out and used a fillet tool to make a mini fillet along both edges. This will help with any water standing and help with run off.

Companion Way

I also installed the companion way to the top of the cabin. I used epoxy to attach and used a combination of clamps and weights to hold it down while the epoxy cured.  This turned out good.
The portion that slides back and forth works well. Below are a few pictures of the work.

Bowsprit Hole 

As with any hole I have to cut in the boat, I am always nervous. The other night I cut a piece of wood to equal the end of the bowsprit.  I used a 4X4' post and cut it on the band saw. I then took an angle finder and measure the angle of the bow. I then marked that angle on the piece of wood.

I then held the piece up to the bow and marked it on all sides. I then took a couple of my small saws and took my time cutting. I had to use a keyhole saw to get the corners and then had to use a rasp to fine tune the hole so the bowsprit wood fit. I would estimate that I took another 1/8" off, for the bowsprit to fit properly. As the manual said, I could not resist putting the bowsprit in and taking some pictures.

Things are coming together! I am hoping to work on things tomorrow. Probably finish up the sanding, so I can start the painting.